I rise. "I'm going to grab our bags from the Jeep. We shouldn't leave them outside."
"No one is around for miles. Your stuff is safe outside," Julieta informs me.
Another reason to get the guns, in case this beast wants to kill us in our sleep.
"I'll feel better with it inside with us. Flower, you coming?"
"Nope. I'm good here."
I give her a look to come with me, but she smiles and waves.
Guess we're going to have to work on our silent signals.
The shine of the knife catches my eye, and I hesitate.
"Seriously, Hunter?" Julieta crosses her arms and gives me a look of disgust.
"Hey, I don't know him."
"I do."
"Well, you haven't exactly told us anything about your friend."
"He's—"
"Hunter, go get the bags, please," Vanessa chirps.
Go and get back quickly.
Ryker is here. It'll be fine.
But I doubt he can take Mr. Muscle on without a weapon, either.
Vanessa motions for me to leave, and I decide it's best if I obey. I maneuver my way through the house and outside.
I scan the surroundings, but I can't see much. The outline of a few buildings that I assume are part of the estate, but other than that, we seem to be in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by jungle.
The calls of the animals sound the same as the previous night. There's no clue where we are, other than Ryker drove south.
Are we really still in Belize?
I pick up both Ryker's and my backpacks, and when I get inside, I lock the door.
Not sure why I'm locking it.
Anyone who attempts to enter this man's house is asking for a beat down, or worse.
I pause and double-check my gun is in my bag then return to the kitchen.
"Technically, he's my husband," Julieta says, and I freeze.
"You're...oh." Ryker gapes.
"Why is he calling you Liliana?" I blurt out.
"It's my middle name. He's called me that since we were kids."
"So, you aren't someone else?"
"Hunter!" Vanessa scolds.
"What? We don't know who she is. She's full of secrets. Maybe even lies. And where the hell are we exactly?"
"Hunter!" Ryker barks.
Hurt crosses Julieta's face. She quietly says, "No, I'm not someone else. And I may have secrets, but I'm not a liar."
"Are we even in Belize still?"
"Yes. We're right on the line. The property backs up to Guatemala. It's why I'm not worried about crossing the border."
I throw my hands in the air and bark, "Why didn't you just tell us that?"
Her face crumples. "I'm... I'm sorry. I don't know how to explain this situation. I'm used to not disclosing things, so I don't get killed. I... I just…"
Ryker scowls at me. "You don't have to apologize to him. Ignore him."
She turns to him. "I haven't lied."
"No. But you haven't told me a lot, have you?"
"Please don't be upset with me," she whispers.
He clenches his jaw then turns and shoots daggers at me.
Miguel growls in Spanish, and I turn.
Oh shit. He's talking to me.
He puts the knife down and practically flies across the counter and points in my face. "Mostrarle respeto."
I hold up my hands, regretting that I haven't removed my gun from my bag and that I set it on the table when I came in. "What's he saying?"
"He's telling you to show her respect," Vanessa replies.
I glance at Julieta. "I didn't mean any disrespect."
"Miguel, no." She wags her finger at him and continues to speak.
He grunts at me then goes back to chopping his vegetables.
I sit next to Vanessa. "What did she say?"
"She said you aren't disrespecting her, just that you are a natural hothead and asked a fair question based on the circumstances."
"Oh."
Nothing I haven't heard before.
Julieta should hook up with Kalim.
She can't because she's married to Thor.
"But she just saved your ass because that was very disrespectful."
A sinking feeling in my gut feels like I'm on a roller-coaster ride and just went down a hill.
"Flower, I didn't—"
"You just accused her of being a liar."
Great.
When am I going to think before I talk?
I sigh and turn back to Julieta. "I'm sorry. Add another strike to my name."
"It's fine."
"No, it's actually not fine," Ryker states.
"Let's drop it," Julieta says, but Ryker's expression tells me I'm going to be hearing about it later.
"Your paperwork didn't mention you were married," Ryker quietly states.
"It's not as straight forward as you think," she replies.
"Then why don't you fill me in."
"I..." She rubs her face while taking deep breaths. "I don't know where to start."
"Try it."
"Come sit down. Have a drink and dinner," Julieta quietly says to Ryker.
"Just tell me what's going on."
She stares at him.
"I think I need some air."
She puts her hand on his shoulder. "Don't—"
He shrugs out of her grasp and leaves.
Julieta puts her hand over her eyes again.
"Liliana," Miguel says. She spins, and they exchange more words. It sounds heated, and Julieta exits the room.
Well, this is super comfortable.
Vanessa pats the stool next to her.
I glance at my backpack again, debating about whether I should bring it with me.
It's only a few feet away if you need it.
Vanessa puts her hand on my arm. "Try to be nicer to her. She's a good person."
"I'm not trying to be a dick."
She tilts her head.
"I'll try harder."
"Thank you." She kisses me.
Miguel pulls out a bottle of liquor and another one filled with red juice. He sets three glasses down and puts an equal amount of each liquid in the cups.
"What's that?"
"Cranberry rum. Try it, you'll like it," Vanessa says.
I eye Miguel again.
"Hunter!" Vanessa snaps.
"What?"
"You're acting rude."
"I am?"
"Yes. Stop looking at him like that."
"Sorry."
"Drink." She picks up her glass and clinks it with Miguel's.
What the hell. When in Rome...or wherever we are.
I take the glass and clink with both of them.
"Salud," Miguel and Vanessa both toast.
"Salud." I take a sip of the drink. It's fruity but also extremely strong and burns my throat on the way down. I cough.
Miguel says something.
Vanessa laughs and pats my cheek.
"What did he say?"
"That you might not be able to handle it."
I grunt.
Vanessa and Miguel talk more, and she goes to his side of the counter and turns the stove on.